Jakarta – All victims of the PT Sorik Marapi Geothermal Power (SMGP) mudflow that had undergone intensive treatment at the Panyabungan Hospital, Mandailing Natal, are allowed to return home.
Head of Sibanggor Julu village, Mandailing Natal, Awaluddin told tanahair.net Wednesday (27/4) that all victims had returned to their homes and the mudflow that previously flooded the residents’ rice fields had stopped.
“We still don’t feel safe, because this is the fourth incident in the past year. The company hasn’t done a good job in securing their work. We are afraid that this incident will happen again,” said Awaluddin.
As previously reported, there was a well kick or formation fluid flowing back up the borehole when PT SMGP drilled the T-12 well on Sunday. Twenty-one people were rushed to hospital after residents who were working in rice fields near the geothermal project vomited and fainted, following a hot mudflow accompanied by toxic gas on Sunday morning.
PT SMGP Head of Corporate Communications, Yani Siskartika said that the company is “committed to always providing support to the community, including providing health assistance for the local community,” she said in a written release, Tuesday (26/4). The company said that the handling and security of the drilling site is continuing to ensure the well is really in a safe condition and eliminates the potential for a well kick.
SMGP asks for support from the local government and the community to give time for further handling, for the safety of the community, workers and the environment. “For the time being, SMGP has stopped drilling and testing of wells,” Siskartika added.
Currently, the team from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MoEMR) in collaboration with the SMGP team and the North Sumatra Police are conducting an investigation to find the main cause of the well kick.
SMGP also regrets the incident of beating and looting by local residents that occurred on Sunday at the project site which could endanger their workers, and impact on the established commercial operation schedule. SMGP condemns all acts and behavior of violence and hopes that local residents will remain calm and continue to work together in creating a conducive atmosphere.
The Sorik Marapi Geothermal Project unit 2 with the capacity of 45 Megawatts has recently started their commercial operation after completing their Unit Rated Capacity (URC) test, according to the MoEMR. The project targets a total of 240MW development following a feasibility study, approved by the MoEMR and a sales contract with the State Electricity Company (PLN).
The unit’s Commercial Operation Date (COD) was delayed for around 18 months from the targeted December 2020 date, following an unexpected accident that caused fatalities. According to Jatam’s record, the recent incident is the fourth accident in the past two years related to the company. On 25 January 2021, five people died and at least 49 people were hospitalised. (Hartatik/nsh)
